Ergonomic computer mouse

ABSTRACT

In a manually movable computer mouse with a mouse movement sensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and at least one user finger operable control switch, for providing control signals for a graphic user interface, the mouse has a boomerang shaped body ergonomically shaped to fit and support the user&#39;s hand in a naturally relaxed curled hand positon, with a main body portion and a narrower neck portion extending at an angle of about 45 degrees to 90 degrees to the main body narrow enough to be interposeable between the thumb and first finger, and with an integral mouse movement control fin or tab extending above the mouse body and being thinly shaped to fit in the relaxed space between the first and second fingers (and to also provide an alternate pen-like grip between the thumb and first finger) to orient the mouse to the user hand and move the mouse with user arm movements. An integral wrist support may be provided extending from the wrist end of the mouse. The movement sensing system is adjacent that same end.

Cross-referenced are the same inventor's U.S. utility and design patentapplications Ser. Nos. 09/339,606 and 29/106,594 (now U.S. Design Pat.No. D 418,824 issued Jan. 11, 2000) filed on the same date as thisapplication, with the same assignee, the same title.

The use of a “mouse” as a manually moveable and operated graphic userinterface (GUI) to control computers has become so widespread as to benearly universal. [“Trackballs”, “track pads”, “joy sticks”, “softbuttons” “mouse-pens”, “light pens” and other GUI positioning orpointing systems are also well known, especially for laptop PC's, butproportionally less common]. The use of a mouse normally requires, ofcourse, frequent two axis movement of the mouse by the hand, wristand/or arm, and finger operation of integral or associated switches.Many millions of people are now moving and operating computer mice formany hours a day. Thus, it has become increasingly important to provideergonomically improved mice designed to reduce user stress, fatigue,and/or injury, especially carpal tunnel syndrome or other suchrepetitive motion induced ergonomic problems.

Numerous prior efforts in this regard are noted in the patentliterature, including U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 381,970; 5,648,798; 5,576,733;and 5,355,147. Also, a (differently configured) “Anir” mouse by AnimaXInternational ASA of Norway.

Noted as of particular interest for hand and wrist support devices foruse in association with a computer mouse intended to reduce or eliminatecarpal tunnel syndrome are U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,112 issued Oct. 29, 1996to Calvin H. A. Robinson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,067 issued Aug. 23, 1994to Teresa A. Martin et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,365 issued Feb. 9,1999 to William P. Hesley and assigned to Ergo Devices Corporation andtheir related U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,865,404 and 5,865,405.

By way of background, although a mouse with a conventional rotatableball mouse movement signal generator is illustrated, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated by those in theart that various mouse movement sensing system alternatives are wellknown and available, such as mice with optical sensors for sensing mousemovements (changed mouse positions) relative to patterned mouse-pads.

Disclosed in the embodiment herein is an improved computer mouseproviding several advantageous features and differing in severalrespects from the above-cited prior patents.

By way of further background, a reported cause of carpal-tunnel syndromeis improper use of a computer mouse pointer. With a conventional suchmouse the users can develop bad habits that may predispose them todevelopment or aggravation of carpal-tunnel syndrome. These bad habitscan include using excessive wrist angles to position the mouse pointerinstead of using the forearm and fingers, such as placing the wrist flaton the desk surface with the wrist bent back at an angle greater thanfifteen degrees, and pronation (inward rotation) of the wrist past anormal angle with fingers spread to reach around the mouse body and thengripping the mouse tightly. With the hand in any of these positions,finger motion (clicking) is believed to potentially irritate the tissuesand nerves in the carpal-tunnel. Indiscriminate use of wrist or armbraces can exacerbate the effects.

In contrast, the disclosed embodiment of a new mouse design in theexample below induces a more natural and better hand and wrist position,provides easy and natural operation, provides optional wrist support,discourages severe wrist deviation, and encourages good hand and fingermovement habits. Alternatively, this disclosed computer mouse embodimentcan provide the user with the ability to hold and control the mouse inmore than one way, so that alternate hand positions can be used torelieve discomfort, if desired.

This is accomplished in the disclosed embodiment by a simple, low cost,mouse which is comfortable, intuitive and can reduce repetitive stressproblems such as those described above and in the above-cited patents.It does not require such a radical departure from the grip and operationof a normal mouse as to be un-intuitive and/or require retraining toregain positional control dexterity.

A more specific feature of the specific embodiments disclosed herein isto provide a user hand movable computer mouse with a mouse movementsensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and at least oneuser finger operable control switch, for providing control signals for agraphic user interface, the improvement in said computer mousecomprising; a mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit and support theuser hand in a naturally relaxed hand position, and a mouse movementcontrol fin integral said mouse body for said user hand mouse movement,said control fin extending substantially above said mouse body, saidcontrol fin being thinly shaped to fit in between adjacent fingers ofthe users hand to orient said mouse body to the users hand and for saiduser hand movement of said mouse.

Further specific features disclosed herein, individually or incombination, include those wherein the user hand movable computer mousebody has a main body portion and an extending neck portion, and saidextending neck portion extends at an angle to said main body portion;and/or wherein said control fin is adapted to be alternatively graspedbetween the users thumb and first finger for pen like movement of saidmouse thereby; and/or wherein said control fin is integral said mainbody portion and is elongated along an axis generally parallel to theaxis of said main body portion; and/or wherein said mouse movementsensing system is positioned in said main body portion adjacent one endthereof opposite from said extending neck portion; and/or wherein saidextending neck portion has control switches on opposite sides thereof;and/or wherein said main body portion has an attached extending wristsupport trailer member; and/or wherein said extending neck portion is atan angle of between approximately 45 degrees to 90 degrees to said mainbody portion; and/or wherein said mouse is a dual use mode mouse shapedto provide two different ergonomically correct hand supporting and mousehand movement positions, wherein; said control fin is adapted to beloosely held between the adjacent first and second fingers of the usershand in a first hand position, and said same control fin is adapted tobe held in a second and different hand position in which said controlfin is gripped between the thumb and first finger of the users hand in apencil-like hand grip; and/or wherein said mouse has at least twoduplicative function but differently positioned said user fingeroperable control switches for said respective dual use modes.

As to specific components of the subject apparatus, or alternativestherefore, it will be appreciated that, as is normally the case, somesuch components are known per se in other apparatus or applicationswhich may be additionally or alternatively used herein, including thosefrom art cited herein. All references cited in this specification, andtheir references, are incorporated by reference herein where appropriatefor appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details,features, and/or technical background. What is well known to thoseskilled in the art need not be described here.

Various of the above-mentioned and further features and advantages willbe apparent from the specific apparatus and its operation described inthe specific examples below. Thus, the present invention will be betterunderstood from this description of these specific exemplaryembodiments, including the drawing figures (approximately to scale)wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overhead perspective view of one embodiment of the subjectimproved ergonomic computer mouse;

FIG. 2 is a front (to the user) view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a left side view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top view thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top view thereof in operative connection with a conventionalcomputer, and with exemplary internal electrical components shown inphantom;

FIG. 9, labeled “prior art”, is a schematic top view of the operation ofa conventional mouse, with an exemplary tracking ball position andexemplary operator hand and wrist movements relative thereto illustratedin phantom lines;

FIG. 10 is a similar view to that of FIG. 9 illustrating the differencein the operator hand and wrist positions for the exemplary ergonomicmouse of FIGS. 1-8; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative, “pencil grip”, hand or grip positioncompared to that of FIG. 10 for the exemplary ergonomic mouse of FIGS.1-8 and 10.

Described now in further detail, with reference to the Figs., is oneexemplary embodiment of the subject improved ergonomic computer mouse.There is shown in FIGS. 1-8 and 10-11 one example of a computer mouse 10incorporating several ergonomic and other advantages and features. Thesubject mouse may have some or various combinations of these disclosedfeatures, i.e., they are not all essential to the claimed invention. Itwill also be appreciated that a right-handed operator or user mouse 10is shown, and that a left-handed user version of this mouse could havean opposite or mirror image basic configuration.

The improvements to be further described herein relate to this exemplarymouse 10 per se. As noted above, the GUI functions of a mouse, theelectronic components and their hardware and software interface betweena manually operated computer mouse and various connecting PC's or othercomputers, and/or various graphic user interface displays therefore, arewell known and may vary and need not be re-described in detail here.Likewise as to the internal circuitry of the mouse, which may also be ofvarious known or conventional types.

However, especially for background and reference purposes, FIG. 8 hereis provided showing one example of possible internal electricalcomponents of the mouse 10 operatively connected to an exemplaryconventional computer 100 having a GUI display 102 and keyboard 103. InFIG. 8 the mouse 10 is shown with conventional exemplary internalcircuitry 104 in phantom lines, with outputs connecting by cable 12 tothe computer 100, including conventional mouse ball 13 movement trackingsensors 105 and 106, and finger switches 107A, 108A, 109A, and 110A,respectively actuatable by illustrated variously positioned externalbuttons 107, 108, 109, and 110 by way of examples, but not limitedthereto. Also exemplary illustrated in FIG. 8 as connected to circuitry104 for cable output 12 is a scroll input signal generator 111A operableby a thumb-wheel scroll input 111. These or various other alternativesuitable sensors and switches are well known per se and need not bedescribed in further detail herein. The connecting cable 12 can, ofcourse, be replaced by various IR or other wireless interfaces, as iswell known.

Further by way of background, FIG. 9 here illustrates one example of theundesirable wrist movement or deviation and hand position of aconventional computer mouse.

Turning now to the subject ergonomic exterior configuration of the mouse10, as shown in all the FIGS. 1-8 and 10-11, as will be furtherdescribed, the mouse 10 is generally a generally horizontally extendingsmooth integral outer shape, which is somewhat “boomerang” or angularlyshaped with an angled neck portion 14 extension at its outer or rear end(the end facing away from the operator in use). Intermediately extendingfrom the mouse 10 adjacent the angled neck portion 14 is a thin andsubstantially vertically upstanding tab or fin 16. This fin 16 is shapedto comfortably extend in between the relaxed first 18 and second 19fingers of the operator as shown in FIG. 10. (Or, alternately, bereadily grasped between the operator's thumb 20 and first finger 18 inthe alternate operating position of FIG. 11). Using the fin 16, the usercan easily guide the mouse without griping it, as in FIG. 10. The fin 16can also be grasped like a pencil, as in FIG. 11. The front end of themouse 10 has an extending integral or attachable “trailer” wrist support22.

The mouse 10 per se (not including the detachable wrist support 22),i.e., the integral unit of the main body of the mouse and its neckportion 14, has the general shape defined by the pocket formed by arelaxed human right hand. Thus, as gripped, the main body of the mouse10 is aligned with the axis of the user forearm and the neck portion 14of the mouse is off-axis or at an angle to the main body of the mouseand the user forearm by approximately 45 to 90 degrees. As will befurther described, that novel arcuate configuration of the mouse 10might tend to rotate which its control buttons are pressed if it werenot for its other features, specifically the fin 16.

The illustrated mouse 10 embodiment has diagonal touch points, a sidebutton operation, and a built-in wrist support, as identified above andin the drawings. These features provide ergonomic benefits, as will befurther discussed. The button placements, unique shape, and anatomicsupport provided combine to provide such benefits. The diagonal touchpoints provide low impact operation.

As shown in FIG. 11, this mouse 10 also incorporates features that allowit to be alternatively hand-held more like a writing pen for a highdegree of positional control with an alternative ergonomically correctpencil-like grip. Unlike a “mouse-pen”, however, the mouse 10 can beleft standing in the same, normal, stable position on any conventionalmouse-pad. Many prior ergonomic mouse designs have concentrated onprevention by providing a modified hand grip position. However most ofsuch prior designs do not adequately encourage or keep a user from usingthe mouse incorrectly. That is, do not adequately encourage correct orimproved hand, finger and wrist positioning and movement. Although themouse 10 can provide some of the benefits of a wrist brace, it does notartificially restrict the motion of the hand and wrist.

Turning to these disclosed features of the exemplary mouse 10, briefly,the trailer or wrist support 22 moves integrally with the mouse 10 tosupport the wrist and to reduce wrist-hand angle front to back, and tolimit side-to-side wrist motion. The shape of the mouse 10 provides animproved grip shape that allows and induces the user's fingers to wraparound the mouse body in a relaxed, natural, hand position. The mouseball 13 or other mouse movement sensor is positioned under where thepalm of the hand is positioned by the mouse 10. That is, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the mouse ball 13 is adjacent the user or front edge ofthe main body of the mouse, adjacent the trailer or wrist support 22,unlike conventional mice where the ball is typically more centrallylocated. That makes the mouse 10 ineffective to deviate the wrist, sincesuch a wrist action would essentially pivot the mouse around the ball 13rather than move the ball 13. That is, the undesired prior art userwrist movement illustrated in the prior art example of FIG. 9 iseffectively discouraged by the configuration of the mouse 10.

The mouse 10 operating or click buttons illustrated include dual (eitheris operative) left click buttons 109 and 107 on the near right side andthe far right side (out on the angled neck portion 14) ends of themouse. The button 109 is on the outside of the angled neck portion 14.The button 107 is near the wrist support 22. In the mouse 10 hand gripor hand position mode of FIG. 10 the button 109 can be used for first(index) finger 18 operation—i.e., the well known “left-click” buttonaction commonly provided on a mouse, and most often used. The user canclick button 109 with the index finger or click by squeezing the mousebetween the thumb and index finger. Alternatively, especially in thepencil-grip hand position mode of FIG. 11, the alternative little-fingerbutton 107 can be used as the left click button.

For the “right click” function the squeeze button 108 is providedcentrally of the far right hand side of the mouse 10, to the right ofthe button 109. I.e., more or less aligned with or along the centralaxis of the mouse, the wrist-rest 22, and the mouse ball 13, and infront of the fin 16. Squeezing this side-mounted outer-end mouse button108 between the thumb and the second or middle finger 19 and/or thethird or ring finger provides the “right-click” button action commonlyprovided on a “two-button”mouse.

To repeat, as to the disclosed control buttons, this particularexemplary mouse 10 has left-click buttons on both ends. One left-clickmouse button 109 is positioned under the index finger. The sameleft-click button function is repeated in a button 107 that is locatedhere under the base of the little finger, at the prominence created bythe joint between the proximal phalanx of the little finger and thedistal head of the metacarpal bone (the phalangeal-metacarpel joint).With these click buttons in both these positions the user can click withthe index finger or click by squeezing the mouse between the thumb andlittle finger. The muscles that control the squeezing action do not passthrough the carpal-tunnel. This motion is a simple closing of the hand,which will increase the carpal arch, opening the tunnel. The fin 16assures that the users hand is in the correct position to use thisfeature.

The side-mounted button 108 that falls under the fingertips of themiddle and ring fingers provides the right-click function. Squeezing themouse between the thumb and these fingers provides the right-clickaction. The finger motion occurs at the second finger joint instead ofthe knuckle. The ligaments that control this action do not pass throughthe carpal-tunnel. The squeezing action will also increase the carpalarch, opening the tunnel.

For maximum benefit in use, the heel of the palm of the hand shoulddesirably rest on the trailer wrist support 22 with the fingers wrappedloosely around the mouse body, as shown in FIG. 10. In that preferredmode or grip of FIG. 10, the fin 16 is positioned between (extends upbetween) the index or first or index finger 18 and the middle or secondfinger 19. With the palm of the hand in this FIG. 10 position on themouse 10, some user wrist movement is possible, but limited, and weightis resting primarily on the wrist support 22. The user will thus movethe mouse 10 with shoulder and forearm muscles for gross X-Y coordinateGUI pointer positioning. The fingertips, and only moderate wristmovement, can then provide fine positioning.

A key feature of this illustrated design for proper functioning is thepresence, and outer-central location, of the vertically extending fin 16on top of the main body of the mouse 10. With the mouse fin 16, themouse 10 orientation is fixed relative to the user's hand. The user,without any conscious effort, will guide and position the mouse 10 usingthe fin 16 and his or her engaging distal and middle finger joints. Thelow-profile power-grip shape of the mouse 10 would also be lesspractical without the fin 16 because the mouse could turn in the usershand. Note that the fin 16 is relatively thin in width and is elongatedin the forward direction generally along the central axis of the mainbody of the mouse 10. The fin 16 has a width approximating a normalnatural spacing between the index and middle fingers, and is held withinthat space in the handgrip mode of FIG. 10. This prevents unintendedrotation of the mouse. The fin 16 also automatically aligns and holdsthe user's hand (the fingers in particular) in the correct position andorientation relative to the respective mouse finger control buttons 108,109, 110, and/or 111, since these finger control buttons are in fixedpositions relative to the fin 16 position, with preset spacings from thefin 16 position proportional to normal finger sizes.

The side pressure (squeeze) button controls would also be less practicalwithout the fin 16, because applying side pressure could cause the mouseto turn in the users hand. The wrist trailer 22 would also be lesspractical without the fin 16, because, with the wrist relativelyimmobilized, fin 16 guidance of the mouse 10 with middle and distaljoint finger motion is used for mouse positioning. The under-palm ball13 utilizes fin 16 hand guidance for fine positioning of the mouse 10instead of wrist deviation.

To summarize, the fin 16 fits into the space between two fingers (theindex and middle fingers, or, alternatively, between the middle and ringfingers). This feature provides easy repeatable hand positioning of themouse 10, that is of high importance. When held in this position, theuser can guide the mouse 10 by the fin 16 without the need to grip themouse with the fingers. This floating action encourages the user torelax his/her hand when using the mouse.

All of these features contribute to the ergonomic benefits by supportingthe hand and wrist in a selected, relaxed, neutral, position duringactive operation.

The fin 16 can even be hinge-mounted or otherwise be mounted to folddown or be removable. That will allow the mouse to be lowered in heightor disassembled to pack more easily into a laptop carrying case, ifdesired.

In the alternative “pen” hand grip use or mode of the mouse 10 shown inFIG. 11, the fin 16 can be alternatively used as a pencil-grip controldevice, with separate functional enhancements and ergonomic benefits. Asshown, the fin 16 there is gripped between the thumb and the (flexed)first finger, and the mouse 10 position is controlled thereby. Theability of a user to thereby alternate between two completely differentoperative hand positions and grips on the same mouse 10 can providefurther ergonomic and other user benefits.

In this alternative grip mode, the mouse 10 can also be alternativelygrasped like a pencil for tasks that require a high degree of pointercontrol. That is, very fine movements, such as for working with verysmall screen objects or for doing screen artwork. Muscle movement ingeneral requires moderation by another muscle. Using one body part toact as a resisting force to another enhances positional control. Movinga lever with two hands gives better control than moving it with one.When writing with a pencil or pen the thumb and fingers resist eachother to provide a high degree of control over the position of thepencil point and facilitate rapid direction changes. This enhancedcontrol is the result of a combination of physical forces and thesynergistic effect of propriocepive neurons of opposing body parts. Itis also typically a highly developed motor skill in most adults fromyears of writing. The dual function mouse 10 can thus also provideunique advantages for users with specific conditions, and for childrenwho have not developed the fine eye-hand coordination of an adult.

When the fin 16 is being grasped like a pencil, with the hand in thatposition, the little-finger will curl under and be positioned over thelittle-finger button 107. This feature provides high positional control,using the small muscles of the fingers whose ligaments do not passthrough the carpal-tunnel. This hand position is also ergonomicallycorrect. Left-click function is by rotating the hand outward(supinating) so that the little-finger presses on the little-fingerbutton. This is a smooth natural motion that does not alter the pointerposition as fingertip clicking often does. The right-click function canbe accomplished by extending a finger to the button 108. This method hasadditional ergonomic benefit, especially where there is median nerveinvolvement.

Another advantage of the mouse 10 over a conventional mouse-pen, whichis particularly enabled by the fin 16, is the consistent always“standing upright” position of the mouse for quick acquisition andgripping, with the user using his/her peripheral vision to locate thedevice. That is, the mouse 10 does not fall over when it is not beingheld, as many mouse-pens do.

The alternate little finger button 107 is also a contributor to thisalternative mode of operation of FIG. 11. With this grip, other buttonactuation types or locations may tend to disturb the mouse pointer 10position when clicked, such as a barrel button or down pressure buttonof a mouse-pen. An unexpected benefit of the little-finger button 107 isthat, in either mode or grip, the down pressure of its operation tendsto freeze the pointer position, stopping pointer drift, thereby reducingdouble-clicking errors.

Turning to further ergonomic advantages, the mouse 10 shape and sizeallows a user to wrap his/her hand around the mouse body in a relaxed“power-grip” position. The mouse 10 top contour turns the hand slightly,so that the hand is not in a highly pronated position. The long axis ofthe mouse 10, including its extension 14, is angled approximately 45 to90 degrees from the axis of a conventional mouse. This allows the user'sfingers to wrap around the mouse body in a relaxed, natural position.This grip is described by ergonomists as a “power grip” and is apreferred ergonomic grip. The thumb end of the mouse is narrow, topromote a high arch of the hand, thus increasing the carpal arch,opening the carpal-tunnel. The broader base of the mouse 10 main bodyprovides support for the palm of the hand.

The mouse ball 13 central positioning under the palm of the handposition on the mouse 10 makes it ineffective to deviate the wrist sincethat action would essentially pivot around the ball 13, as previouslynoted. The presence of the trailer 22 can enhance this feature. Themouse ball central axis position also places the functional componentsalong the center axis of the main body of the mouse 10. (To reduceactuation pressures, mouse buttons may be part of a lever that actuatesa remote switch). In this way the functional internal parts of right andleft handed versions of the mouse 10 may be the same, with different topcovers, reducing manufacturing costs.

The size and contour of the mouse 10 also allows the users fingertips torest lightly on the underlying mouse-pad on which the mouse moves.Touching the fingertips on the mouse pad desirably connects the positionof the users hand and the mouse pad through the tactile nerve endings ofthe fingertips and the proprioceptive (position sensing) neuralreceptors in muscles and joints. Without this tactile connection theposition, direction, and speed of mouse movements relative to the screenpointer position is only through continuous visual feedback from themouse pointer or other cursor on the GUI display screen 102. Theadvantage of this tactile mouse movement connection is enhanced by thepresence of the fin 16. Since the nerve-sensitive adjacent inside fingerskin surfaces of the first and second fingers are desirably constantlytouching the respective opposite sides of the fin 16, the mentalreference to the mouse/hand connection becomes a point with a knownorientation. This tactile reference to the mouse fin and the mouse-padand a learned relationship between hand motion and visual pointermovement can reduce the level of conscious discrimination needed whenpositioning the mouse screen pointer to a screen 102 target, andpossibly reduce fatigue in long term mouse usage.

The wrist trailer 22 here can be a simple pad attached to the base ofthe mouse 10 that supports the wrist. It has two basic functions. Itsupports the wrist to reduce the wrist-hand angle (dorsiflection). Italso prevents severe angular, side to-side, deviation of the wrist. Whenthe wrist is in place, the user has limited ability to deviate the wristfor fine positioning of the mouse pointer. Instead the user willposition the mouse using the forearm for gross positioning and thefingers tips for fine motion. The narrow neck and fin of the mouse 10allow the fingers to move in motions similar to those used when drawingwith a pencil.

The trailer 22 may be detachable, since those users who already positionthe mouse using these motions may not want it in place. The trailer 22may be constructed in layers so the user can customize the height andangle. One method of accomplishing this is to use hook-and-loop material(Velcro) with the trailer 22 consisting of a stacked plurality of soft“loop” covered foam pads backed with “hook” material.

Even without the fin 16, or with alternatives thereto, the mouse 10provides several of the above-described and other ergonomic advantages.As noted, the entire mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit and supporta user hand in the natural relaxed position of the human hand. That is,with the fingers naturally curled into a position spaced from and inopposition to the thumb, around the mouse, with the finger tips adjacentthe bottom of the mouse, and with the first finger tip only spaced about2 to 4 cm from the end of the thumb. The neck portion 14, which isextending at a selected angle to the main body portion of the mouse asdescribed above is desirably of a narrow corresponding width. Thus theneck portion 14 fits between the relaxed first finger and thumb, forimproved fine movement control, and, as described above, improvedcontrol switch operation by squeezing the neck portion 14 between theend of the first finger and the thumb.

As an alternative embodiment, for dual (right or left handed) users,although less desirable, a mouse with two narrow extending neck portionsinstead of one could be provided, i.e., a “Y” or “T” shaped mouse ratherthat the boomerang shaped mouse 10.

As a hand orientation or alignment aid to the mouse, an elongated fingergroove or slot can be provided in the mouse body instead of or inaddition to the fin 16.

While the embodiments disclosed herein are preferred, it will beappreciated from this teaching that various alternatives, modifications,variations or improvements therein may be made by those skilled in theart, which are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a user hand movable computer mouse with amouse movement sensing system for providing mouse movement signals, andat least one user finger operable control switch, for providing controlsignals for a graphic user interface, the improvement in said computermouse comprising: a mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit and supportthe user hand in a naturally relaxed hand position, and a mouse movementcontrol fin integral with said mouse body for said user hand mousemovement, said control fin extending substantially above said mousebody, said control fin being thinly shaped to fit in between adjacentfingers of the user hand to orient said mouse body to the user hand andfor said user hand movement of said mouse.
 2. The user hand movablecomputer mouse of claim 1, wherein said mouse body has a main bodyportion and an extending neck portion, and said extending neck portionextends at an angle to said main body portion.
 3. The user hand movablecomputer mouse of claim 1, wherein said control fin is adapted to bealternatively grasped between the user thumb and first finger for penlike movement of said mouse thereby.
 4. The user hand movable computermouse of claim 2, wherein said control fin is integral with said mainbody portion and is elongated along an axis generally parallel to theaxis of said main body portion.
 5. The user hand movable computer mouseof claim 2, wherein said mouse movement sensing system is positioned insaid main body portion adjacent one end thereof opposite from saidextending neck portion.
 6. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim2, wherein said extending neck portion has control switches on oppositesides thereof.
 7. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 2,wherein said extending neck portion is at an angle of betweenapproximately 45 degrees to 90 degrees to said main body portion.
 8. Theuser hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said user handmoveable computer mouse has a leading end and a trailing end, andwherein said mouse movement sensing system is adjacent to said trailingend.
 9. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein saidmouse is a dual use mode mouse shaped to provide two differentergonomically correct hand supporting and mouse hand movement positions,wherein; said control fin is adapted to be loosely held between theadjacent first and second fingers of the user hand in a first handposition, and said same control tin is adapted to be held in a secondand different hand position in which said control fin is gripped betweenthe thumb and first finger of the user hand in a pencil-like hand grip.10. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 9, wherein said mousehas at least two duplicative functions but differently positioned saiduser finger operable control switches for said respective dual usemodes.
 11. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein saidmouse body has a main body portion and an extending neck portion, andsaid extending neck portion extends at an angle to said main bodyportion, wherein said main body portion has an extending wrist supporttrailer member.
 12. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1,wherein said mouse body has a main body portion with an extending wristsupport member, and wherein said mouse movement sensing system ispositioned in said main body portion adjacent to said wrist supporttrailer member.
 13. In a user hand movable computer mouse with a mousemovement sensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and atleast one user finger operable control switch, for providing controlsignals for a graphic user interface, the improvement in said computermouse comprising: a mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit and supportthe user hand in a naturally relaxed hand position, and a mouse movementcontrol fin integral with said mouse body for said user hand mousemovement, said control fin extending substantially above said mousebody, said control fin being thinly shaped to fit in between adjacentfingers of the user hand to orient said mouse body to the user hand andfor said user hand movement of said mouse, wherein said mouse body has amain body portion and an extending neck portion, and said extending neckportion extends at an angle to said main body portion, and wherein saidmain body portion has an attached extending wrist support trailermember.
 14. In a user hand movable computer mouse with a mouse movementsensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and at least oneuser finger operable control switch, for providing control signals for agraphic user interface, the improvement in said computer mousecomprising: a mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit and support theuser hand in a naturally relaxed hand position, and a mouse movementcontrol fin integral with said mouse body for said user hand mousemovement. said control fin extending substantially above said mousebody, said control fin being thinly shaped to fit in between adjacentfingers of the user hand to orient said mouse body to the user hand andfor said user hand movement of said mouse, wherein said mouse body has amain body portion and an extending neck portion, and said extending neckportion extends at an angle to said main body portion, and wherein saidmain body portion has an attached extending wrist support trailermember, and wherein said mouse movement sensing system is positioned insaid main body portion adjacent said wrist support trailer member. 15.In a user hand movable computer mouse with a mouse movement sensingsystem for providing mouse movement signals as said mouse is held andmoved by the user relative to a mouse supporting surface, with saidmouse having an mouse body with inner and outer areas, and at least oneuser operable control switch for providing control signals for a graphicuser interface, the improvement in said computer mouse wherein: saidmouse body comprises a main mouse body portion with a generally arcuateupper surface ergonomically shaped to fit and support the user hand in anaturally relaxed hand position with plural user fingertips and the userthumb curved around the outside of said mouse body in said outer areaand extending downwardly towards the mouse supporting surface to allowtactile referencing with the mouse supporting surface, said mouse bodyfurther having a relatively narrower neck portion laterally extendingfrom said outer area of said main mouse body in a position to beinterposed between the naturally opposing thumb and first fingerposition of the user, said laterally extending relatively narrower neckportion of said mouse body having a said user operable control switchfor providing control signals for a graphic user interface, whichcontrol switch is actuatable by squeezing the user naturally opposingthumb and first finger together on opposing sides of said laterallyextending relatively narrower neck portion of said mouse body, and athin mouse movement control fin elongated in the direction of said innerto outer areas and extending vertically above said main mouse body in aposition for interposition between the sides of adjacent fingers of theuser when the user is holding said mouse body in a naturally relaxedhand position for said user hand movement of said mouse.
 16. The userhand movable computer mouse of claim 15, wherein said mouse movementsensing system is positioned in said inner area of said mouse body. 17.The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 15, wherein a wristsupporting member extends from said inner area of said mouse body. 18.The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 15, wherein a wristsupporting member extends from said inner area of said mouse body, andwherein said mouse movement sensing system for providing mouse movementsignals as said mouse is held and moved by the user relative to a mousesupporting surface is positioned in said inner area of said mouse bodyadjacent to said wrist supporting member to reduce user lateral wristmotion tendencies.
 19. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 15,wherein said laterally extending relatively narrower neck portion ofsaid mouse body extends laterally outwardly at an angle of approximately45 to 90 degrees from said outer area of said main mouse body.
 20. Theuser hand movable computer mouse of claim 15, wherein said mouse body,including said laterally extending relatively narrower neck portion, hasan overall boomerang shape.